Miriam Davidson Papers,
1979-1989

MS
433

Papers, 1979-1989. This collection contains
Miriam Davidson's manuscripts and research files for her 1988 book,Convictions
of the Heart regarding the 1980's Sanctuary Movement and Trial.
Materials include several drafts of the book and Davidson's research materials,
the bulk of which include: news clippings, Davidson's trial notes, Sanctuary
Movement materials, and cassette tape recordings of Davidson's interviews with
various members of the Movement and Trial. The majority of the material is in
English, some is in Spanish.

Biographical and Historical Note

Miriam Davidson (b.1960) grew up in the Boston, Massachusetts, area and
became a Quaker when she was eleven years old. She graduated from Yale
University in 1982 with a B.A. in English and later earned her master's degree
in international journalism from the University of Southern California.
Davidson has worked as a reporter, editor, journalism professor, freelance
writer, and author. In 1982 she moved to Texas and worked as a reporter and
Lifestyle editor for the Laredo News and later
served as managing editor of Third Coast magazine.
Davidson was a University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, adjunct professor of
journalism, 1988-89. From 1993-1996, she worked for the Arizona Republic in Phoenix, Arizona, as a correspondent
covering Tucson and Nogales. As a freelance journalist her work has appeared in
the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, The
Nation, the NACLA Report on the Americas,
and The Progressive. Davidson's three books
include Convictions of the Heart: Jim Corbett and the
Sanctuary Movement (1988), Changing Childhood
Prejudice: the Caring Work of the Schools written with Florence H.
Davidson (1994) and Lives on the Line: Dispatches from
the U.S.-Mexico Border with photographs by Jeffry Scott (2000).

The bulk of Davidson's work has been on the U.S.-Mexico border. In 1985,
she moved from Texas to Tucson, Arizona, to cover the Sanctuary Movement and
subsequent trial. She covered the trial for the Christian
Science Monitor and the Religious News Service; her book,
Convictions of the Heart was published by the
University of Arizona press in 1988. The Sanctuary Movement originated in
Tucson, Arizona, during the early 1980s as a means of aid to Central American
refugees, especially people fleeing from the political violence in El Salvador
and Guatemala. Jim Corbett (1933-2001) along with the Tucson Ecumenical
Council, Rev. John Fife (b. 1940), and his congregation declared sanctuary for
the refugees. The grass roots movement soon became a national movement with
churches all over the United States declaring sanctuary. In 1985, sixteen
activists were indicted, eleven - including Corbett and Fife - went to trial
and eight were convicted of alien smuggling and other charges. Although the
trial ended in 1986, the movement itself has continued and evolved over the
past twenty-five years in its original mission to aid refugees.

Scope and Content Note

Papers, 1979-1989. This collection contains Miriam Davidson's
manuscripts and research files for her 1988 book, Convictions of the Heart: Jim Corbett and the Sanctuary
Movement regarding the early 1980's Sanctuary Movement, which aided
Central American political refugees, and the 1985-1986 Trial held in Tucson,
Arizona. Materials include several drafts of the book and Davidson's research
materials, the bulk of which include: news clippings, Davidson's trial notes,
Sanctuary Movement materials, and cassette tape recordings of Davidson's
interviews with various members of the Movement and Trial; the bulk of the
interviews are with Jim Corbett. The majority of the material is in English,
some is in Spanish.

Restrictions

There are no restrictions for this collection.

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish
from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record,
the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legates, or literary executors). The
user agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Arizona Board of Regents for the
University of Arizona, its officers, employees, and agents from and against all
claims made by any person asserting that he or she is an owner of
copyright.

Subseries 1: Printed Materials,
1980-1989 Arrangement: Alphabetical. This subseries contains printed
materials such as essays/statements, government documents, magazine and news
clippings, as well as newsletters and pamphlets pertaining to the Sanctuary
Movement and Trial as well as materials relating to Central America and
immigration issues in general. More printed materials, specifically magazines
and newspapers, can be found in Series IV: Oversize Materials.

Subseries 2: Subject Files,
1979-1987 Arrangement: Alphabetical. This subseries contains materials
grouped by topic based on Davidson's original organization. Materials include
Davidson's notes, news clippings, articles, newsletters, some legal materials,
and information packets regarding refugee stories. The bulk of the material is
Davison's Trial Notes; she was in court for the duration of the Sanctuary
Trial. In most cases, original folder titles have been retained. More subject
files materials, specifically regarding John Fife, can be found in Series IV:
Oversize Materials.

Arrangement: Alphabetical. This series contains the taped
interviews conducted by Davidson of various members involved in the Sanctuary
Movement and Trial. The majority of the tapes are Davidson's interviews with
Jim Corbett. Two tapes include a recording of a service that took place on
March 24, 1982 in Southside United Presbyterian Church.

Although most of the tapes are undated, the interviews took place
at some point between 1985-1987. The alphabetical arrangement is based on the
interviewee's last name; although two different people may be on the same tape,
the arrangement is based on the interview recorded on Tape Side A. Note that
the titles listed are based on the overall subject
matter discussed during the interview and do not necessarily reflect the tapes'
original titles. Also note, the job positions listed were those at the time of
the interview or positions of significance during the early 1980's Sanctuary
Movement.

Tape 13 Sides A and B Robert Hirsh, defense attorney for
John Fife Thoughts on the Trial Interview Date:
1987.
, 1987

3

14

Tape 14 Sides A and B Ken Kennon, pastor of Broadway
Christian Church and Tucson Ecumenical Council (TEC) Task Force on Central
America member TEC and Sanctuary Movement Activities and
Services Interview date: June/July 1986 Second Half of Side BMarch 24, 1982 Southside Church Service Last Third of
Tape is Blank.
, 1982,1986

Tape 16 Side A Tim Nonn, seminary student at St. Mark's
and TEC Task Force on Central America project director 1981-1982TEC and Sanctuary Movement Activities and
ServicesInterview date: August 26, 1985 Last Third of the Tape is Blank
Side B Gary MacEoin, journalist, lawyer, and author Sanctuary Movement Activities and Services Interview
date: undated.
, undated,1985

3

17

Tape 17 Side A March 24, 1982
Southside Church Service Side B Dave Sholin, chief pastor at St.
Mark’s Presbyterian Church and TEC member TEC and
Sanctuary Movement Activities and Services Interview date: undated.
, undated,1982

Tape 19 Sides A and B Mike Smith, assistant pastor at St.
Mark's and president of the TEC in 1981 and appointed chairman of the TEC Task
Force on CA TEC and Sanctuary Movement Activities and
Services Note: Side B is Mostly Blank.
, undated